The Man Behind the Curtain

A one-man play that tells the story of the creation of the Land of Oz and the memorable characters of Dorothy Gale, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, The Lion and Toto, among others, as originally conceived by author L. Frank Baum. The play also details the personal journey of Baum, a native New Yorker, as he finds his way in the world, receives encouragement from his mother-in-law suffragette Matilda Joslyn Gage, and enjoys commercial success with “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”

John Newman has performed the play in ten states in theatres, schools, museums, churches, and libraries. It has been presented in communities related to the life and writing of L. Frank Baum, including Syracuse, New York; Aberdeen, South Dakota; Chicago, Illinois; Holland, Michigan; and Coronado, California. He performs it at least once a year for his students at Utah Valley University and can perform it in communities for the cost of travel expenses. The play can be licensed by others to perform through Leicester Bay Theatricals.

To arrange a performance, contact the playwright at John.Newman@uvu.edu.